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You want a DAC that sounds *different.* What factor helps you find it?

I'm thinking about trying a new DAC, adding one to the stable. 

What's most important is that it sound different than my present DAC.

If you were to look for a new DAC to try, what weight would you assign to each of these factors in predicting a different character of sound? 

1. chipset
2. design of DAC --- R2R etc.
3. power supply
4. tube or no  tube
5. ? (some factor or combination not mentioned)

I've become somewhat skeptical of user reviews because of uncontrollable variability related to tastes, system components, and vagueness of language used by reviewers.

So, without some appreciation of the ability for the above factors to affect the sound character, singling out just one or another factor seems like random guessing.

I'd love to learn from you all. I'd be curious to know, for example, that most R2R DACs sound similar, overall. That would help by directing me away from trying another R2R DAC. Or maybe they don't all sound similar; ok, that keeps them in consideration.

Same question with chipsets, power supply, tube/no tube.

So, again the hypothetical -- simplified:

You want to get a DAC that sounds much different than what you have. What factor helps you find it?

128x128hilde45
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,629 posts
 

$,3,2,1,4

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 

Great answers! Many factors I had not thought of.

A lot of these factors seem to be of the "What makes a DAC sound great" variety. I suppose I'm especially interested in the "What makes a DAC sound *different*?"

In other words, assuming I had a choice between two DAC's and they *both* had all the great aspects mentioned -- what would be the differentiating factor which would alter the sonic character between them?

Some of the answers above did touch on this, so I'm just re-stating the question in case it was somewhat muddled.

sns
3,265 posts
 

Choice of optimal rendering in both streamer and dac critical, really should be thought of as package deal. Using non optimized connection or port on either of these two components won't allow for full potential of dac to be heard.

 

I'll soon be investigating virtually every rendering scheme available with recent ATX board based server purchase, should be interesting.

 

The question then becomes, whether optimal rendering is done internally within dac or in streamer? I presume both have pluses and minuses, implementation everything.

 

 

 

 

precis
3 posts
 

Chip used that changes the math to sound . Each one’s output then is effected by the math Method d/a. Each manufacturer, chooses one. Then builds based on target price around that . 

listen from the reference of chip design higher price may not give you a linear better. 

I have a vendor that allows me to try d/a and return what I do not want. 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,889 posts
 

“Implementation of the analog stage
Quality of the DAC’s clock
Quality of the power supply
Must have USB & AES inputs
Ability to play both PCM and DSD
Sturdiness of build and interior organization for isolation”

 

All good points of consideration.  I can live without DSD but it has to sound great on my system.  That’s all I care about.  How does it sound.  
 

I went from a fully featured DAC that sounds really good to a stripped of features Non OS with tube analog output and it sounds MUCH better in my system…. Maybe not your’s.  It sounded so so when run direct onto my amp. And that’s the whole thing about this hobby , lifestyle, whatever you want to call it.  No two systems are the same. So many variables.    
 

Putting other components ONE at a time in your system is the only tried and true way to get optimum sound and that’s why dealers that work with you, take trades , let you take the item home are invaluable   

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